The German government has strongly condemned the recent arrests of numerous prominent opposition politicians in Izmir, Turkey.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office in Berlin stated on Wednesday that the latest wave of detentions casts a troubling shadow on the Turkish justice system and raises concerns about the independence of both the judiciary and police investigations. The spokesperson added that the perception of political competition in Turkey increasingly being conducted through judicial means is a recurring concern.
The numerous arrests of representatives from Turkey’s largest opposition party, the CHP, in their stronghold of Izmir have intensified the German government’s worries regarding democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. The spokesperson noted that the arrests in Izmir represent an escalating pattern of action against the CHP.
The Ministry expects the allegations to be investigated swiftly and transparently within the framework of a lawful judicial process.